Don’t question policy, Chidambaram tells CBI

New Delhi, Nov 12: Cautioning the CBI to respect the line that divides policy making and policing, Finance Minister P. Chidambaram on Tuesday said investigating agency must confine to policing and not question the policy.

"I would caution the investigating agency to respect the line that divides policy making and policing," Chidambaram said while speaking at the Central Bureau of Investigation’s (CBI) international conference on ‘Evolving Common Strategies to Combat Corruption and Crime’.

"It is not the business of the investigative agency to lay down a rule of conduct; nor is it the business of the investigating agency to presume a rule of conduct," the former home minister said.

Chidambaram said the investigative agency must confine itself to the question whether there has been a violation of a laid-down rule of conduct.

"Even where a rule has been prescribed, if there is a policy behind that rule. It is not the business of the investigative agency to question the wisdom of that policy or to suggest a different policy that would be better in the view of the investigating agency," he said.

Airing similar views Monday, Prime Minister Manmohan Singh said it was not proper for probe agencies to sit in judgement over a policy decision taken in good faith even if it is found later that there was no mala fide intent or personal monetary gain.